NASCAR

That could apply to an MLB outfielder stretching out for an unbelievable catch, an NFL runner shedding that one final block to reach the end zone, and many other scenarios.

One of those other scenarios, in the world of NASCAR, is executing the perfect bump-and-run to get a win at Martinsville and punch your ticket to Homestead, like Joey Logano did Sunday.

It was a brilliant move, executed by a driver who has never shied away from doing what it takes to win the race, and it was a move everyone should have anticipated, given what was on the line. Now, instead of heading into the next two races just above the cut line, Joey Logano is in the Final Four. He’s racing for a title at Homestead and can breathe easy the next two weeks (though I’m sure he’ll try to win those races too, being the competitor he is).

Denny Hamlin, who won the pole for today’s race at MIS with a lap of 210.590 mph, was happy to see some positive results after a bit of a rough stretch. He won all three segments of qualifying on Friday, and was seventh in final practice.

“These guys are really stepping up and we’re starting to make a little hay now. We love to see results when you work so hard,” Hamlin said. “The toughest part is when you work really hard and you don’t get the results and really we had unfortunate circumstances happen to us last weekend with that stop, but overall just been so happy with our performance.”

As far as the race, Hamlin knows he has to approach things a bit more measured than in qualifying.

“We have to get it driving just like it is right now – consistent and easy to drive at this point. You have to make sure you have that same sustainability in race trim for 200 laps around here.”

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Silly season has begun, and the big drama this weekend surrounds Kurt Busch, 2004 Cup champion, who is still finalizing his plans for the 2019 season. Here’s a look at the players involved, and my take on what it all really means.

Kurt Busch: You would think that a driver with an attached sponsor (Monster Energy) would be someone a team would want to hold onto … but apparently that’s not the case with Kurt Busch. His one-year renewal for 2018 went down to the wire, and it does not look like it’s going to happen again, according to published reports.Kurt has not confirmed anything, but he did not deny it. He said he is talking to multiple teams, which to me is an admission he won’t be in the 41 next year. So what’s SHR’s motivation here in not agreeing to terms with Busch? Of course money is probably a factor: It always is, and we’re never in the room to know details about how much of a factor it is. But no doubt, the youth movement plays a role too. SHR has the most senior roster in the Cup level, with drivers that are ages 42 (Harvick), 39 (Bowyer) and 34 (Almirola); Kurt Busch is 40, also on that high end.

Meanwhile, other teams are going younger (see Gibbs, Hendrick) and SHR doesn’t want to miss opportunities to get the stars of the future in their cars today. They even have one in their own system that is likely a good fit (more on that later).

A total of 19 Team Chevy Camaro ZL1 drivers will start the FireKeepers 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Michigan International Speedway. The 200-lap/400-mile contest around the 2-mile venue is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., ET. Live coverage will be available on FOX, MRN Radio, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.

Kyle Larson, No. 42 Credit One Bank Camaro ZL1, earned his first career victory at Michigan International Speedway in 2016 and followed that up with a season sweep at the 2-mile venue in 2017 giving him three career victories at MIS

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Brad Keselowski, a native of Rochester Hills, has never been shy about expressing his thoughts … no matter what the folks in charge may think.

When Goodyear announced the tire they were bringing to Michigan in the wake of a tire test Keselowski had participated in, he wasn’t happy with the choice, and asked for his name to be taken off the press release.

And when the topic comes to the package run at the All-Star race (which provided some great, tight racing) being expanded to other tracks this year and beyond, he definitely was not on board.

Speaking Friday at Michigan International Speedway, a track where Keselowski is still seeking his elusive first Cup win, the 2012 Cup champion didn’t hold back on his thoughts.

Regarding the tire controversy, Keselowski reiterated Friday what he had indicated in the tweet earlier this week: That he is not happy with the choice and doesn’t want to be seen as endorsing it.

“I like Greg Stucker and Goodyear a lot but I didn’t like my name on the press release because I felt it was an endorsement to something that I didn’t endorse. I didn’t endorse the decision to bring this tire here and I didn’t want my name attached to that,” he said.

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Michigan International Speedway has a full weekend of entertainment planned.

Fans can check out www.mispeedway.com/entertainmentfor all the entertainment options that are planned for the June race week at MIS. Guests will want to arrive extra early this season to take advantage of all the options that are available.

Before the drivers are introduced for the FireKeepers Casino 400, Mike Green will entertain the crowd. The comedian has toured the United States performing stand up and making people laugh at every stop. On June 10 he will be live on the pre-race stage at Michigan International Speedway.

Guests will want to be in their seat early to see the human cannon ball before the FireKeepers Casino 400. Don't miss David "The Bullet" Smith AGT, the World's Most Accomplished human cannonball, as he flies through the air above the tri-oval. Smith has been featured on America's Got Talent and is a Guinness World Record holder.

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Defending NASCAR champ Martin Truex Jr. hasn’t grabbed the headlines as much as Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick, but he’s arguably on part with those two in terms of being the title favorite.

In my view he’s the most impressive driver of the year, considering his Furniture Row Racing team is down to one car this season -- the last time I can remember a one-car team running this well? Perhaps Alan Kulwicki.

By comparison, Harvick and Busch are part of powerhouse four-car teams.

It’s true that Truex has the support of Toyota and a close affiliation with mighty Joe Gibbs Racing, but I don’t think that diminishes what he is doing in 2018. If Truex can repeat as champion in 2018, it will be one of the most impressive runs in recent years.